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Thursday, December 18, 2014

Christmas is almost here! My where has the year gone? I really planned on creating several Christmas manicures but I've been so busy lately. And my schedule is always thrown off whenever I go on vacation. Nevertheless, I was able to create this nail of the day using a simple waterless marble technique.

Friday, October 24, 2014

Hi beauties! Today I have swatches of the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Halloween collection to share with you. There are 4 polishes from the set but I have 3 to share with you today

Scaredly Matte

I'm so in love with this matte from the collection. It's a black matte with a slight slick finish, so it reminds me of leather. This is a photo after it dried for about 30 minutes with no base coat. It did pretty well covering my ridges but they are still somewhat visible. I wore 2 coats here.

Pumpkin Queen

A bright happy orange, perfect for Halloween. My picture mutes its a little, it's more of a bright tangerine cream (think Reeses Pieces orange). It was pretty opaque with 2 coats but I wanted to make sure there were no streaks so I applied a third coat.

OMGhost

Okay I have to admit that I partially wanted this one because of the name. OMG is a marshmallowy white cream. I used 2 coats to make it opaque.

I really like the fun colors for Halloween or anytime of the year. I'll definitely wear the black and white year round. I'm not sure if they are good for stamping because I haven't tried them out yet but most polishes from the Insta-Dri line are perfect for stamping.

The Halloween Insta-Dri's are limited edition and are available at retailers that carry Sally Hansen.

Friday, September 26, 2014

Hey beauties! I wanted to share the results of my Sally Hansen Miracle Gel nails with you. The color I choose is #570 Purplexed from the Fired Up Metallics line. It's a gorgeous deep purple with a hint of shimmer. I applied 2 coats, without a base coat, and 1 coat of Miracle Gel Topcoat.

The polish dried within 1 hour. I was concerned I would nick it on something, but it dried without dents. The shine of the topcoat did dull somewhat once completely dry. I was tempted to reapply the topcoat throughout the week, to enhance shine, but I wanted to use it as recommended.

Here are the results after 6 days of wear. My pointer finger nail was already broken, so the polish chipped off more dramatically on that nail. The other nails of more reflective of how the polish wears over time.

I must admit it was nice to have my nails done throughout the week without having to worry about polishing them. The results were good. I had minimal tip wear and the manicure could have lasted longer if my pointer nail wasn't broken.

The results are not as shiny as UV gel nails, but the system does create a long lasting manicure without the need to re-polish. I think the results would be even better with a lighter color, so that tip wear is not as obvious.

The Sally Hansen Miracle Gel polishes are available at retailers that carry Sally Hansen. The price in my area is $9.99 per polish, but the set that contains color + top coat ranges from $14.99 to $16.99.

Hey Beauties! Today I have a few of the NYC Crystal Couture Collection to share with You. The collection consists of 6 shimmering shades that can be worn alone or as top coats. I have 3 of the six shades.

All of the polishes have a medium consistency but went on thick enough to stand as a polish alone instead of a top coat. NY Princess (purple) was the thickest of the three and my favorite from the set. I think these will be great for the Fall and the green reminds me of the Christmas season. One of the best things about these polishes is the price point, at $1.99 it's easier to afford more.

I don't have a release date for the collection but they will be available at drug store chains that carry NYC. Hopefully they will appear in your area soon!

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Hey everyone! I stumbled upon the new Wet N' Wild megalast Matte Collection. I grabbed all 6 along with 3 of the matte lipsticks.

I swatched on individual fingers due to the drying time of the polish, which took about an hour to dry. They were dry to the touch after about 30 minutes but I could still make impressions when I pushed down on them. From left to right: Echo Dark, So Berry On Trend, Rouge 66 and LAC-My Mani?

I applied 1 coat of Wet N Wild clear to create a glossy look.

Here are the grey and purple mattes. From left to right: LAC-My Mani?, Distressed to Impress,Careful It's Vintage and LAC-My Mani?.

Here they are glossy.

I found 3 of the lippies. The sales associate actually had them behind the counter because she didn't have a spot for them.

From left to right: Bordeaux Boulevard, Sunset Siren and Sweet Cream.

I really like this collection, especially since it's soooo inexpensive. The polishes all applied in 3 coats, except the red and brown, where I used 3 coats just to be sure. It's matte polish, so expect a few chips here and there. The chips may possibly be reduced by sandwiching a top coat between the layers. I didn't use a top or base coat (for the completely matte look) and I could see my ridges, this may also be reduced by sandwiching. The only other negative I can think of is the brush, which is large and difficult to work with.

I really like the lippies as well but they are a little drying. To combat this I used chapstick underneath and it wears for 5 hours with no problem. The colors are very matte, except the purple had a hint of shine to it.

Overall I can't complain for the price. The polishes and lippies were $2 each! #WINNING

To Be or Not to Beagle - also a glitter mix in a clear base. Interesting combination of glitters that play well together. Sports red, medium blue, light blue, orange, yellow and black medium hex glitter along with black micro glitter for good measure. I'm in love!

The Designer Series polishes released are DS Titanium and DS Tourmaline.

DS Titanium - my absolute favorite out of all 3 collections. Has a titanium silver base and a holographic silver finish. The glitter mix has medium blue, green and orange glitter combined with holographic microglitter. There may be other colors that come together to create this beautiful finish. Another stunning 2 coater.

DS tourmaline - for the pink lover in you. Tourmaline has a gelly pink base, but not to thin because it required two coats. It also contains a glitter and holographic mix that is difficult to see on the nail but flashes a slight holographic gold hue.

My favorites from the collections are: The Power of Pink, To Be or Not to Beagle and DS Titanium!!! I'm not sure when the collections will hit stores but they should be coming out soon.

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Hey lovelies! Today I have a few Barielle swatches to share with you. I wanted to try a few colors that would be great for the Fall since the colder months are right around the corner. So I chose a blue, red, neutral and pink, because I wear pink year round!

Berry Blue

Gorgeous 2 coater blue creme. I've been loving blues a lot lately. The formula was a little on the thin side but not watery. Just thin enough to give it a slight jelly finish. It applied smoothly in 2 coats.

Fifth Avenue Boutique

Pretty in pink almost neon cream. I was surprised at the brightness of the formula but it's a great transition color into the Fall. Also a 2 coater.

Dancing Till Dawn

Vampy true blood creme. Perfect for Halloween season. The formula was similar to Berry Blue where it's a creme, but thinned out to provide more gloss. Very pretty and also a 2 coater. I see now in pictures, I could have used 3.

No Not Now

Grey-ish pink neutral with a slight hint of shimmer not visible on the nail. A true where anywhere color. I think this is one of the better neutrals for my skin tone. Also a 2 coater.

The formula on the cremes I choose were a little thinner than I expected, but that allows the finish to be more jelly-like and provide a higher gloss. Application was smooth with no lumps or clumps. And I was able to get away with 2 coats on most of them (after taking a picture I noticed Dancing Till Dawn could have used a 3rd coat). This is my first time trying Barielle, outside of their glitter polishes, and overall I really like them.

Barielle polishes can be purchased at Barielle.com. They also have a feature that allows you to try on their polish according to your skin tone.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

THINK: The fusion of color and scienceWHAT IT IS:The first salon-quality manicure that combines pure nail color with high techno gel...exclusively from Sally Hansen. Love the high shine, glossy look of a gel manicure but could do without the complexity of LED lights, time consuming removal, and expensive price tag? Now, Sally Hansen, the leader in nail color innovation, is making manicure history with an entirely new way of thinking about long lasting nail color. Its new, patented Miracle Gel, is the first ever part lacquer, part gel manicure system that delivers up to 14 days of lasting color and shine in just 2 easy steps. Simply apply two coats of the Miracle Gel Color Coat, followed by the Miracle Gel Top Coat, to achieve the most convenient manicure, ever.

THE TECHNOLOGY:The Miracle Gel manicure contains patented Tube Technology. This allows a higher level of actives and continuous care ingredients to release into the gel lacquer film, prolonging the integrity of the filmresulting in beautifully durable, shiny nails. The advanced Color Coat, which is a combination base coat and nail color in one, and Top Coat formulas contain an oligomer, and the Top Coat also contains a photoinitiator. The photoinitiator in the Top Coat formula reticulates with the oligomer contained in the Color Coat, thus curing the formula without the need of an LED/UV light. As the manicure cures over time, it becomes more durable due to the increased hardness of the film. So LED/UV lamp curing is not necessary, only natural light. Then, when you’re ready to change up your look, Miracle Gel comes off easily with both acetone-based and acetone-free nail polish remover – no soaking, wrapping, scraping, or filing necessary.

Friday, August 22, 2014

Peanuts by OPI brings
to life Charles M. Schulz’s comic strip characters for Halloween 2014. Inspired
by “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” the four new limited edition nail
lacquer shades include seasonal yellow and black crèmes, as well as two
black-based glitter hues.

“‘It’s
the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown’ is a classic, beloved film,” explains Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Co-Founder &
Brand Ambassador. “Peanuts by OPI celebrates the fun,
youthful nature of Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus and Snoopy with four limited
edition nail lacquer shades designed to capture the spirit of Halloween. With
two crème and two glitter options, you can switch between a cheery yellow or
chic black look, or try adding a layer of glitter for a unique finish.”

Peanuts by OPI includes
the following shades:

Good
Grief!

The
sunny yellow of Charlie Brown’s favorite t-shirt.

Where’s
My Blanket???

Linus awaits the Great Pumpkin in this orange and black glitter.

WHO ARE
YOU CALLING BOSSY?!?

This
stormy black is no match for Lucy’s raven hair.

To Be
or Not To Beagle

Snoopy’s
happy-dance of colors in a joyful glitter.

Each of the four shades is also available in the Little Peanuts mini pack, which is sold
with ten nail decals ranging from popular Peanuts phrases like “Good Grief!”
and “Pow!” to sketches of Snoopy and the signature squiggle of Charlie Brown’s
shirt.

Peanuts nail
lacquer shades each feature OPI’s
exclusive ProWide™ Brush for the ultimate in application. Peanuts by OPI and Little Peanuts mini pack will
be available beginning September 2014 at Professional Salons,
including Chatters, Planet Beauty and ULTA. Peanuts nail lacquers
will retail for $9.50 ($11.50 CAN) each; Little Peanuts mini pack will retail for $13.95 ($17.50 CAN).

For
more information, please call 800-341-9999
or visit www.opi.com.
Follow OPI on Twitter and Instagram @OPI_PRODUCTS
and become a Facebook fan! For more
information on Peanuts, follow @snoopy on Twitter, @snoopygrams on Instagram,
and like the characters at www.facebook.com/snoopy.

ABOUT OPI

As the world leader in
the professional nail care industry, OPI is committed to providing
high-quality products and services to both salons and their customers, along
with a focus on industry safety and innovation. Known for its exceptional
formula, fashionable colors and iconic names, OPI’s heavily-pigmented
lacquers are super rich, long-lasting and chip-resistant – offering an
affordable luxury to consumers. OPI nail lacquer is available in over
200 shades. Each lacquer features OPI’s exclusive ProWide™
Brush for the ultimate in application. Currently, OPI is available in
over 100 countries and retails a full line of professional items, including
nail treatments, finishing products, lotions, manicure/pedicure products,
files, tools, gels and acrylics.

ABOUT PEANUTS

The PEANUTS
characters and related intellectual property are owned by Peanuts Worldwide
LLC, a joint venture owned 80% by Iconix Brand Group, Inc. and 20% by members
of the Charles M. Schulz family. Iconix Brand Group, Inc. owns, licenses and markets a growing portfolio of consumer brands.
The Company licenses its brands to a network of leading retailers and
manufacturers that touch every major segment of retail distribution from the
luxury market to the mass market in both the U.S. and worldwide. Through its
in-house business development, merchandising, advertising and public relations
departments, Iconix manages its brands to drive greater consumer awareness and
equity.

Saturday, August 16, 2014

I've had this beauty in my collection for a while and only decided to whip it out recently. Who can't fall in love with a name like So Fierce. But the color is what first got my attention. Sporting a fuchsia base with light blue and gold glitter and micro shimmer. The neon looses it's effect once applied over a creme polish but it's still beautiful.

I usually only use the Insta-Dri's for stamping but I decided to try this as a base. I applied one coat over Berry Sweet. A dusty red/berry creme that stains like it's nobody's business.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Tonight I'm sporting Nails Inc. Baker Street. Part of me wanted to compare it to Milani's Blue Print and I must say they are extremelllllly close. I think Blue Print may have a tad bit more purple, but it's hard to notice the difference.

Monday, July 28, 2014

I found the new Milani's at my local CVS hidden on a bottom shelf. Well not exact "hidden" but I could have easily passed them up. The polishes sport the new bottle shape, similar to Nails Inc but slightly larger. There were 12 polishes in the display: a couple of glitters, shimmers, cremes and 1 quick dry top coat. I selected 4 colors along with the quick dry top coat.

Friday, July 18, 2014

Perfect as every day go-to colors, the Zoya NATUREL DEUX (2) collection bridges the transitional gap between late summer/early fall 2014 with three, rich brown family shades and three plum based beauties. All in the long-wearing, BIG5FREE formula Zoya is known for!

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Hello everyone! Just wanted to share my nail of the day with you. For the base coat I used OPI Push and Pur-Pull. Then stamped using DRK-A image plate using Sally Hansen Lively Lilac, Presto Pink and Berry Swift. To add a little bling I stamped the tips with Color Club's Foil Me Once.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Hello everyone! Today I have the new OPI Sheer Tint's to share with you. The collection is composed of 4 sheer jelly polishes. I would say they are even more sheer than jellies, hence the name. They add just a touch of color to your nails. The shine is strong since the colors are so sheer. The formula is interesting and almost gooey. I had a couple of strings of polish linger after it was applied.

I'm Never Amberrassed - sheer amber that came across more yellow next to my skin. I think this is my least favorite from the bunch due to lack of contrast. I'm sure it will look better against other skin tones. I used 2 coats.

Be Magentale With Me - very pretty pink/magenta sheer. My favorite from the collection. I did have to use 3 coats though.

Don't Violet Me Down - gorgeous violet sheer. My ring finger smeared, probably because I didn't let the polish dry between coats. I used 3 coats. here. This is my second favorite.

I Can Teal You Like Me - came across more blue against my skin tone, but I can definitely see the green. I used 3 coats again.

The colors are perfect for Spring and Summer. You can create some pretty interesting effects by layering glitters and stamping designs. I may try a few layering designs I've seen done in the past. OPI suggests to use them alone or as a top coat to add color and dimension.

If you're wondering the sheers are not as intense as other jelly polishes I own. With previous polishes I was able to get them pretty opaque with 4 coats, but I believe the sheers will take at least 5. As mentioned above, the formula is gooey and should be allowed to dry between coats. I believe that's why my Violet nail smeared. Overall I really like this collection and can't wait to play with them more. My favorites are Dont' Violet Me Down and Be Magentale With Me.

I don't have a release date for the Sheer's but hopefully they will be available soon!